Filtering out the NBN
You would not be alone if agreeing to some extent with many views given on filtering.
There are several problems with the Governments approach; I feel the idea might have been advanced to far behind closed doors rather than through public input by end users.
It was a mistake to use national and business security to argue further justification.
If filtering was ever to be considered under a new model I have a few concerns:
What accountability has the Government regarding their power, and the need to portray confidence?
Some decisions made could be akin to the ACCC overriding the act for the public good as a whole!
There should be a cooperative of user groups shaping "democratic" filter policy if it is to be taken seriously, in my opinion this cannot be done with fairness using most of the existing bodies in their current form!
Software filters might be circumnavigated by people who want to get around them.
The large majority of Children would not find it easy to circumnavigate a free updated software filter system for the home computer if Government was to provide it as a public service. A site list is a start, why not use it!
If education institutions are in a linked network there might be an opportunity to have a common filtering system based on their needs, this obviously already exist to some extent but I was shocked to see my niece with shared gay sex pictures that children had accessed at school.
I believe schools have better systems in place now but there is always more that can be done!
It is like putting the cart before the horse in my view.
If car designers had put too much work into the bumper bar, we may never have seen the car! Re: NBN
Education in internet use and responsible behavior has to be a big part of immediate available actions. Chat rooms are a concern for many parents and supervised, restricted or educated access might be the only options if chat rooms are used by various family members. There are limitations to filtration and usability in such instance!
Gary Looney
A Citizen of Australia and all its Territories
